Bill Bennett
@billbennett.bsky.social
Pinned
Bill Bennett
@billbennett.bsky.social
· Jul 30
You can read my newsletter online at this site: billbennett.co.nz
Or you can subscribe for free and get the newsletter delivered to you inbox on a Friday morning.
And it is published on Scoop at this address: info.scoop.co.nz/Bill_Benn…
Or you can subscribe for free and get the newsletter delivered to you inbox on a Friday morning.
And it is published on Scoop at this address: info.scoop.co.nz/Bill_Benn…
Up to a point I find it comforting that the AI chatbots sometimes still struggle with te reo (Māori) words, but they appear to be getting much better at New Zealand-style switching between Engilsh and te reo. Spellcheckers and audio AI are way behind.
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Up to a point I find it comforting that the AI chatbots sometimes still struggle with te reo (Māori) words, but they appear to be getting much better at New Zealand-style switching between Engilsh and te reo. Spellcheckers and audio AI are way behind.
Sign of the times, I checked the flying range of the yellow legged hornet. So long as the existing finds are the only nests our house is outside their potential haunts... but this is really not good.
November 15, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Sign of the times, I checked the flying range of the yellow legged hornet. So long as the existing finds are the only nests our house is outside their potential haunts... but this is really not good.
Was thinking about this. While it's possible that Trump may be able to sue the BBC, a billion dollars is many times the largest ever defamation payout from a UK court. If he sues in the US, there is a way, way higher legal bar to his action.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Was thinking about this. While it's possible that Trump may be able to sue the BBC, a billion dollars is many times the largest ever defamation payout from a UK court. If he sues in the US, there is a way, way higher legal bar to his action.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
It's not yet 9:00 and my email and phone have been running hot over the lead story on today's newsletter.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
2degrees building satellite ground station for 2026 launch
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It's not yet 9:00 and my email and phone have been running hot over the lead story on today's newsletter.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
Reposted by Bill Bennett
The Trump World View
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Trump World View
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Today’s newsletter:
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
2degrees building satellite ground station for 2026 launch
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz
November 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Today’s newsletter:
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
A partnership between 2degrees and AST SpaceMobile offers a distinct take on mobile to satellite. Chorus wants government help fixing digital divide. Another data record breaks.
billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast...
2degrees reveals sovereign satellite strategy: https://billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast-spacemobile-satellite-service-2026/
November 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
2degrees reveals sovereign satellite strategy: https://billbennett.co.nz/2degrees-ast-spacemobile-satellite-service-2026/
Airport catering is predominantly carbohydrate
November 13, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Airport catering is predominantly carbohydrate
Realistically, given the margin of error in this poll and the effect of overhangs, all we can really say is that, right now, the next election is too close to call.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Coalition would hold power but Labour gains points after capital gains tax - poll
But coalition parties would still have a majority, according to a new Curia-Taxpayers Union poll,
www.rnz.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Realistically, given the margin of error in this poll and the effect of overhangs, all we can really say is that, right now, the next election is too close to call.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
I've realised that I've consciously stopped or massively reduced using em-rules in my copy. I was taught to use them 50 years ago as a young journalist, but now they are often seen as an indicator that something was written by AI.
I can't have people thinking I'm doing that.
I can't have people thinking I'm doing that.
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I've realised that I've consciously stopped or massively reduced using em-rules in my copy. I was taught to use them 50 years ago as a young journalist, but now they are often seen as an indicator that something was written by AI.
I can't have people thinking I'm doing that.
I can't have people thinking I'm doing that.
Heaven knows it’s not a scientific poll and has no meaningful validity, but the people who can be bothered to click on a button that only a certain demographic will see appear to click in near unison.
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Heaven knows it’s not a scientific poll and has no meaningful validity, but the people who can be bothered to click on a button that only a certain demographic will see appear to click in near unison.
In Auckland this year’s togs, togs, undies weather is about five weeks earlier than usual.
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
In Auckland this year’s togs, togs, undies weather is about five weeks earlier than usual.
I've tried all three of the main mobile companies at one time or another and none of them have managed to disable voice mail. Sometimes it goes off for a week or two, but I continually end up with unwanted voice mail messages.
November 10, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I've tried all three of the main mobile companies at one time or another and none of them have managed to disable voice mail. Sometimes it goes off for a week or two, but I continually end up with unwanted voice mail messages.
Friday's newsletter for people who were otherwise engaged at the end of last week.
billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves...
billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves...
One NZ HQ Move, Mobile Regulation Changes | Bill Bennett
One NZ opens Wynyard Quarter HQ, Commerce Commission recommends dropping mobile termination rate regulation, mixed views on tower co-location deregulation, new wireless jamming rules clarified, Kordia...
billbennett.co.nz
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Friday's newsletter for people who were otherwise engaged at the end of last week.
billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves...
billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves...
Reposted by Bill Bennett
For the supporters of Farage & Co.
November 8, 2025 at 7:37 AM
For the supporters of Farage & Co.
Was still in my music journalist phase so I saw every one of these play live. Saw some of them play many times.
'Women of Punk' 1980 London. (Back row L-R) Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, Viv Albertine, Siouxsie Sioux, (front) Poly Styrene & Pauline Black (photo by M.Putland) #WomensArt
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Was still in my music journalist phase so I saw every one of these play live. Saw some of them play many times.
The odd thing about this story is that there are still some people who think such a programme might be effective despite years of unambiguous evidence suggesting otherwise.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Implementation of boot camp rushed, report concludes
While the pilot contributed to "meaningful and positive change" for participants, the numbers were too small to give meaningful data, it says.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The odd thing about this story is that there are still some people who think such a programme might be effective despite years of unambiguous evidence suggesting otherwise.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
I killed Microsoft subscription the moment I got the first notice with the extra copilot fee. There will be no going back.
The only reason we still had a subscription is because one family member believed it was essential. I’ve barely touched the software in well over a decade now.
The only reason we still had a subscription is because one family member believed it was essential. I’ve barely touched the software in well over a decade now.
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I killed Microsoft subscription the moment I got the first notice with the extra copilot fee. There will be no going back.
The only reason we still had a subscription is because one family member believed it was essential. I’ve barely touched the software in well over a decade now.
The only reason we still had a subscription is because one family member believed it was essential. I’ve barely touched the software in well over a decade now.
One NZ moves HQ back to town: https://billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves-hq-back-to-town/
November 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
One NZ moves HQ back to town: https://billbennett.co.nz/one-nz-moves-hq-back-to-town/
Reposted by Bill Bennett
10% of Meta's 2024 ad revenue came from outright frauds and scams; the platform shows consumers 15 billion ads for fraud and scams every single day. This doesn't even include agitprop and AI slop.
the existential collapse of this monumental pile of shit company simply can't come quickly enough
the existential collapse of this monumental pile of shit company simply can't come quickly enough
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
10% of Meta's 2024 ad revenue came from outright frauds and scams; the platform shows consumers 15 billion ads for fraud and scams every single day. This doesn't even include agitprop and AI slop.
the existential collapse of this monumental pile of shit company simply can't come quickly enough
the existential collapse of this monumental pile of shit company simply can't come quickly enough
I was a young man the first time I heard quantum computing would soon be commonplace.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Will quantum be bigger than AI?
The highly-complex technology is increasingly being tipped to transform computing.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I was a young man the first time I heard quantum computing would soon be commonplace.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
According to my email, there’s a DHL parcel waiting for me to collect in Sao Paolo.
How exciting.
How exciting.
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
According to my email, there’s a DHL parcel waiting for me to collect in Sao Paolo.
How exciting.
How exciting.